Norfolk & Western 611: Rolling Thunder in the Shenandoah Valley | Fall Foliage 2025 (4K)

For the colorful autumnal season of 2025, the famed Norfolk & Western 4-8-4 "J" Class #611 returned to the Virginia Scenic Railroad to haul a series of "Shenandoah Valley Limited" excursions. Reaching mainline track speed along the rails of the former Chesapeake & Ohio Railway, the streamlined monarch would thunder through the vibrant foliage from the small town of Goshen to the city of Staunton, Virginia. Featuring a fleet of near identical passenger cars, the Steam Railroading Institute of Owosso, Michigan, provided the beautifully restored consist for these excursions. With each trip spanning nearly 50 miles, this iconic symbol of post-war ingenuity would perform effortlessly, easily conquering the grades of North Mountain and the former C&O mainline. Climb aboard and enjoy this thrilling film of steam on the mainline in "Rolling Thunder in the Shenandoah Valley" by Keystone Rail Productions!

History of N&W 611:
The Norfolk and Western 4-8-4 "J" Class 611 was built on May 29, 1950, by the skilled craftsmen of Norfolk & Western's Roanoke Shops. She was operated by the N&W in revenue service hauling numerous crack passenger trains at speed. The J's were considered to be the the pinnacle of steam locomotive technology, accumulating thousands of miles. Of the 14 mammoth streamliners built, 611 was the only one to escape the scrappers torch and was retired in 1959 and donated to the city of Roanoke for static display in 1962. In 1982, Norfolk Southern restored the locomotive to operating condition for excursion service and it quickly became the star of the steam program, leading excursions throughout the eastern portion of the United States. By December of 1994, the steam program concluded and she was again retired and moved back to the Virginia Museum of Transportation for display. In February 2013, a campaign called "Fire Up 611!" was formed to return 611 to operating condition. After a meticulous restoration, the "Queen of Steam" made a triumphant return to steam in May of 2015, and continues to thunder down the high iron to this day.

Locations:
0:00 Goshen, VA
1:54 Simmering at Victoria Station
3:18 Maury River Road - Reversing
4:22 Goshen, VA - Departure
5:14 Graham's Bottom
6:11 Bells Valley
7:02 Via's Crossing
8:09 Augusta Springs
9:06 Ferrol - Head On
10:40 Chapin
11:25 North Mountain
13:00 Buffalo Gap
13:59 Swoope, VA
14:56 Hebron Presbyterian Church
16:19 Snyder
17:16 Staunton, VA
19:26 Snyder
20:28 Swoope, VA
21:17 Augusta Springs
22:10 Fordwick
22:39 Calfpasture River
23:40 Goshen, VA - Depot
25:15 Goshen, VA - Main Street
27:35 Victoria Station - Sunset

To learn more and support the Virginia Museum of Transportation, please visit:
http://www.vmt.org

To learn more and support the Virginia Scenic Railway's operations, please visit:
https://www.virginiascenicrailway.com

Special Thanks To:
Buckingham Branch Railroad
Virginia Scenic Railway
Virginia Museum of Transportation
Steam Railroading Institute
The Crews of 611
The KRP Family

Filmed on:
Friday, October 17, 2025
Saturday, October 18, 2025

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